PART Act
The Preventing Auto Recycling Theft Act (PART Act) would dramatically strengthen federal efforts to deter catalytic-converter theft and related misuse of precious metals. It expands theft-prevention protections to cover catalytic converters on both new vehicles and certain other vehicles, requires marking and traceability of converters (including unique part IDs linked to the vehicle VIN), creates a grant program to implement VIN stamping on converters, and imposes stricter recordkeeping and payment rules for the sale and purchase of catalytic converters. The bill also adds new federal crimes and penalties for theft and trafficking in catalytic converters and expands the reach of “chop shop” definitions to cover the removal and concealment of identifying marks and precious metals. Overall, the act aims to make converters harder to steal, easier to trace, and tougher to prosecute those involved in theft, trafficking, or illegal dismantling. Several provisions would take effect within 6 months of enactment, including updating the theft-prevention standard, requiring converter marking, and launching the VIN-stamping grant program. The act would fund VIN-stamping efforts with $7 million drawn from unobligated American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with a fallback authorization if those funds are not available. It also requires enforcement mechanisms and annual reporting on the program’s progress and outcomes.
Key Points
- 1Expansion of theft-prevention standards to include catalytic converters: NHTSA must revise the vehicle theft prevention standard within 180 days to cover catalytic converters (and related parts) and ensure applicability to vehicles under the relevant regulatory framework, with a phased application for certain vehicles.
- 2Marking and identification system: The act requires catalytic converters to be marked with a unique part identification number (which can be linked to the vehicle’s VIN) and directs NHTSA to promulgate regulations requiring conspicuous markings on converters and to maintain a law-enforcement-accessible database for VIN retrieval.
- 3VIN stamping grant program: A DOT program would provide grants (within 180 days) to law enforcement, dealers, fleets, repair shops, and nonprofits to die- or pin-stamp catalytic converters with full VIN or a unique part ID and apply high-visibility theft-deterrence paint. Grants prioritize areas with high theft rates and vehicles covered by the mark/ID requirements; regular reporting on progress and theft outcomes is required.
- 4Recordkeeping and sale restrictions for converters: Salvage, dismantling, recycling, and repair entities must retain seller information and converter-origin data (including VIN or unique part ID marks, date of purchase, seller ID) for at least two years; selling converters with tampered markings is illegal; all purchases/sales must use traceable forms of payment (cash and cryptocurrency prohibited).
- 5New criminal penalties and trafficking provisions: The bill adds a new federal offense for theft of catalytic converters, with penalties up to 5 years and concurrent sentencing with related offenses. It also creates new trafficking provisions for converters known to be stolen and expands the “chop shop” definition to target facilities that unlawfully obtain or remove identifying marks or metals and distribute parts.